A team dinner Thursday, with two teams, two Freeway League rivals that share the same goal — beating one another.

"When I heard their story, I couldn't believe it," La Habra senior quarterback Cody Clements said. "It's crazy, the adversity they're going through, more than some kids will have in their whole lives. I just wanted to be a part of this."

Here's a typical story: A man phoned Anthony White, telling the Coyotes coach he lives in Buena Park but, given the condition of the football program at the high school, sent his son to Sunny Hills. Now, unable to give his son to White, he instead would be sending the school a $500 check.

"It's important for our kids to understand that these people aren't just giving things away," White says. "We have to earn everything. We're not a charity case. No one should feel sorry for us. We have to work hard and make these people proud."

This dinner was Pete Ybarra's idea. He, too, lives in Buena Park but sends his two football-playing sons — Austin and Alex — to La Habra. He's even a vice president of the Highlanders football booster club.

When he read the Coyotes' story, though, Ybarra realized he had to do something. See, he's also a former Coyote, a graduate of Buena Park, class of '85.

"I live here, this is my community," Ybarra said. "When I read about these kids, I started thinking about what we could do for them, how we could do our part. We needed to step forward."

Buena Park entered this season with five victories total the past four seasons. The Coyotes have opened 4-0 under White, who's in his first year at the school. On Friday, they play Katella.

Then, it's Sunny Hills. And then, on Oct. 22, the Highlanders return here, continuing their defense of the league title they have won in each of the previous three seasons.

"This is one of the programs we're trying to emulate," White said. "This is chance to teach our boys how to do things the right way, teach our coaches how to do things the right way. We're using La Habra as a model."

The Highlanders obliged Thursday night, doing things the right way by doing a very classy thing.